The COLUMBIAN AND Balance, REPOSITORY. Political. "HAIL SACRED POLITY, BY FREEDOM REAR'D ! 66 HAIL SACRED FREEDOM, WHEN BY LAW RESTRAIN'D !" FOR THE BALANCE. BEATTIE. HUDSON, (NEW-YORK) TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1803. THE DESTRUCTION OF LIVES BY THE PRED REDHOME, a zealous revolutionist and jacobin, who, as he was no inconfiderable actor in the horrid cruelties of the French revolution, can no wife be fufpected of exaggerating thofe bloody fcenes, has in a late publication flated, that the victims of the revolution in fix years and about four months, that is, from June 1789 to October 1795, amounted to the number of two millions twenty nine thousand fix hundred and fix that twelve hundred and fixty five women and children were thrown into the fea at Toulon : that nine hundred thoufand perished in La Vendee; fifteen thoufand of whom were women, and twenty two thoufand were children that thirty two thoufand were adjudged to death at Nantes, by Carrier; among whom, five hundred chil dren were shot to death, and fifteen hundred were drowned; and two hundred and fixty four women were fhot to death, and five hundred were drowned; and that a hundred and twenty four thoufand whites, including women and children; and fixty thousand blacks and people of colour, of each fex and all ages, were deflroyed at St. Domingo. France, during feveral years of the revolution, refembled an immenfe Volcano that difgorges its lava upon the adjacent territories. Her armies poured over and laid waste the neighbouring countries of Holland, Flanders, Germany, Switzer- It is not forgotten that thofe fcenes of fied all the cruelties and enormities of ceffity; and his character was eulogifed and exalted to the ftars. In fact, it feemed to be an established principle that the French neither did nor could do any wrong. This implicit confidence in Gallic equity and generofity continued unfhaken and unabated till Bonaparte feized the reins of the government and feated himself on the throne of the Capets. It was no longer ago than the year 18co, when a writer under the fignature of "A Citizen of New-York," fpoke the fentiments of his party in the following eulogy on the policy, conquefts and mafiacres of the French. "The plains of Europe, fays this writer, are whitened with the bones of innocent and guilty millions. The fatherless and the motherlefs are bewailing their lofs in this fanguinary war; but yet the purchafe is cheap. Providence has authorifed it, and ages of happiness and liberty are defined to fucceed centuries of mifery, depreffion and fervitude. 66 Furnish an inftance in which the revolutionary government of France has departed from any folemn ftipulations with her neighbours. Has he violated the laws of nations in that grofs and difhonourable way that diftinguifhed the cabinet of St. James? Has the made power the measure of her juftice and the umpire of her differences? Has fhe yiolated the rights of humanity, or offered an infult without the ftrongeft provocations? No! ever magnanimous, the fair and imnutable principles of justice have been the faithful guardians of her conduct." Nothing fhort of infatuation or a partial derangement of intellects could have led men of any degree of honefty thus to bef 170 tow unqualified and unbounded applaufe nefs is arrayed in the garb of fanctity. FOR THE BALANCE. REMOVALS. true patriot, and the mere office-hunter, true patriot, and the mere office-hunter, is effentially connected with the welfare of readily conceded, when it is confidered, the Republic. That there is danger will be how eafy it is to appear a patriot-and how great the inducement to hypocrify is, in a country where we muft neceffarily ruft much to profeffion. Thefe reflections are intimately connected with the fubje& I propofe to examine. Removals from office may be confidered to be made either on account of incapacity or delinquency in the officer, in which cafes they are of public benefit; or elfe they are made on account of the litical opinion of the removed; and in po MUCH has been faid upon this this cafe are of moft pernicious confe look around me, and do not fee that manquences. I am not a modern philofopher. kind are approaching to angelic excellence; and my fellow-citizens must pardon me, if I am fo ungracious as to confider all the defcendants of Adam to be fubject. Many have been irritated by the violence and rapidity, with which they have been made; and many wounds have been inflicted which will not probably be healed on this fide the grave. It is an unhappy reflection that fo fruitful a fource of animofity fhould have been opened; nothing more or less than human beings; and fill more unfortunate is it, that any portion of the people thould have been per-pretty bad ones-capable of noble actions having many good qualities, and fome fuaded, that the general intereft is confalted by removing individuals of one party, merely to make 100m for individuals of another party. The reflecting men of all parties perceive in this opinion ground for unaffected lamentation. It is an opinion inculcated by, and altogether pleaf. ing to, thofe whefe patriotifin is ambition, and whofe love of the people is proleffed to conceal their luft of offices. After all that has been written on the subject, have not yet feen it treated in what I deemed the proper way, and am therefore induced to offer a few obfervations to the thinking part of the community;-for 1 do hope there are yet many who have not renounced the interefts of their country who have get adopted the notion that the democrats can do no wrong. This principle is fundamental in the British government as regards the king; and when in America it thall be adopted with respect to any party, our liberty is gone. In a free republican government, there are two prominent objects of purfuit.The one is the profperity of the republic; the other is, the gratification of ambition. To purfue the fit is always honorable ; to be known to purfue the laft is always ignominious. Whenever a vice is coneeled, it is always under the appearance of its oppofite wirtue. Thus the knave forever affetts honefly. In countries (our own being unhappily no inftance) where religion is the grand defideratum, wicked blafpheme fo much as to bellow out con- incapacity or delinquency, the public good urged again ft removals for opinion fake, in Many and powerful arguments may be a free government. I fay in a free govdepending as it does on force, the monernment; because in a monarchical one, his will neceffarily weakens his ftrength. arch is fupreme, and every deviation from preme; therefore univerfal, unchecked But in a free republic the people are fuexercife of opinion is the vital principle of the fyftem-it is the right of a free pinion, because if he has not this right, it man to enjoy and perfift in a wrong o must be because the exercife of his reafon is controuled. be called the worst of all tyrannies to put is controuled. In a free country, where the right of fuffrage is enjoyed, it would prevailing party.-It would be equally a citizen to death for voting against the defpotic to banifh him-or to confifcate his right to vote, or to inflict any other pun. property, or to deprive him of the Measures of this kind would be called by ifhment. This will not be difputed.degree of punishment makes no differ no other name than perfecution. But the ence furely in the effence of the crime, It is the quo animo that conftitutes the nature of the offence. The deprivation of an office is equally perfecution with in. ftances I have mentioned; not fo difal. trous indeed, but fill it is perfecution; and by how much the lefs the public in dignation is likely to be excited by the act, by fo much the more cruel and barbarous cafe of Mr. Henry, late Comptroller.in the perpetration. We will take the Had he been what is called "a Republi can," there is no doubt he would have remained untouched. He had not been Surveyor General, appointed during Mr. in an unreasonable time; for if that had been a real reafon, then Simeon De Witt, Clinton's fict adminiftration, would have been removed. It could not be (tho' that was alledged by Mr. Spencer) because he fairs, for that was not prohibited by law; paid fomne attention to his profeffional atand the Attorney-General himfelf, tho' pofitively prohibited by law, is fill in the fame flyle of practice as formerly, tho' he ufes another's name, for form fake. It could not be, becaufe Mr. Henry was less capable than Mr. Jenkins. Shewing the rea follows that Mr. Henry was removed for fons which could not have operated, it his political opinions; nav, this was fta. ted in the Council by Mr. Spencer. And that the public might be at no lofs on the fubject, it was flated in a labored per formance at the time, that Federalism was the crime. It was even pretended that the people had infcribed this dreadial fentence on the ballot boxes-"Turn them out, they are unprofitable fervants." This the members of the Council chofe to fancy, altho' the removed officers have fince, in many inftances, been elected to impcitant trufts. But it is unneceffary to confume ink and paper on this point. well-underflood on all hands, that the reIt is movals made by Mr. Jefferfon and our ftate Council were on the ground of im proper political opinions held by the offfubject in a true light. Now, to my mind, cers, as they alledged, and as they faid the whether a man is guillotined, distranchitpeople had decided. This is placing the ed, or removed from an office which he would otherwife have been fuffered to en joy, mercly on account of his political tenets, it is equally perfecution; in either cafe it is the power of government punifhing opinion, and the degree of the punishment forms the only diftinction between the cafes. But it is thus that perfe cutions begin. The public mind is first accustomed to the leffer kind, and is made to follow, step by step, as the perfecutors may venture to proceed, till the country where liberty of opinion and its concomitant bleffings once flourished, feals the deftruction of her rights, in the exaltation of a Cæfar, a Cromwell, or a Bonaparte. Indeed, it is aftonishing that free people who had foftenel the punishment of the worst of crimes, fhould choose that period for the introduction of the punishment of opinion. And to that part of mankind, which we deem enslaved, we do certainly prefent the curious fpectacle of a nation, whofe government avowedly reЛls on the freedom of public opinion, permitting our immediate agents, thofe to whom we have given the most power, to perfecute others whom we have made inferior, for a difference of opinion! I do not mean that there is any thing peculiar in Mr. Henry's cafe; but having pointed to him, we will, for the fake of clearness adhere to him as we proceed. It is granted he is removed on account of his political opinions, and it is faid that this is fair, becaufe he was appointed for the fame reafon. Let us purfue this reafoning and fee where it ends. The people were Federalifts, and therefore appointed a Federalift. Mr. Henry then was appointed by the people, (or their agents who our adverfaries fay are the fame) becaufe he was a Federalift, and then, he is removed on the very ground or which he was appointed. This is making the fovereign commit a complete fel de fe. It is making him as capricious as a child. Yet this is not all. He is made guilty of breach of engagement. If Mr. Henry was appointed because he was a Federalift, it must have been unjust to remove him for the virtue which exalted him. And the fovereign is eftopped (as the lawyers call i) from fhewing that he thought at the time like a fool. And, befides, if the demo. crats are right in faying that the voice of the People is the voice of God, then fure. ly it can be no more nor lefs fo at one time than another. [REMAINDER IN OUR NEXT.] Balance Closet. To those of our distant subscribers, who have even seen a single number of the Bee, and who have thus become in some measure acquainted with its quality and character, it may seem surprizing that we should deem it worth a moment's attention. But, let it be understood that the Bee, destitute as it is of truth and honesty, has to boast of high patronage-that it is cherished and supported (after a fashion) by some of the leading democrats of this town and county-that it is forced and crewed into the hands of farmers and mechanics by the under. lings of faction as a correct vehicle of political information, &c. When these things are considered, it will be admitted on all hands, that it is our duty to detect its falshoods, expose its baseness, and correct its misrepresentations. The Bee has attempt ed, by various methods, to divert our attention from these objects; but, unfortunately, it never has yet fallen upon the right plan. It has abused and blackguarded the senior editor-it has boasted, and bragged and threatened-it has affected candor-it has twisted into all the curves of an expiring eel-it has quibbled and evaded-it has, in short, done almost ail but the right thing. But it has never yet thought fit to tell the truth, fairly, candidly, and uprightly. When it will do this, we shall permit it to rest in peace-Until then, we shall take the liberty to port out its deformities, and endeavor to arrest the progress of its errors. The Bee of last week requests us to answer pub. licly the following question: "Are you fatisfied that the letters on "the fubject of the election in Litch"field in September last, of which ex trafts were publifhed in the Bee, are authentic, and written and figned by "men of fubitantial characters ?" If we could be convinced that it would be of any Soon after the last fall election in Connecticut, bout," &c. &c.-Now, we would ask, what kind After the foregoing article was written, Mr Huit called on the editors of the Balance, with the original letters above referred to. We are no satisfied that the letters were genuine; but his does not prove that Oliver Wolcot was a candidate, which is the real point in controversy. but may also afford a moment's diversion. the following for proof :— Take After the election was over in this county, we stated that certain dishonorable means were used by the democrats for the purpose of furthering their election; and we hinted, at the same time, that the affair might be made the subject of future remarks. At this hint, the Pee took the alarm, and began its usual blustering. It was about to strike us dumb by inuendocs. It had concealed, behind a curtain, or in some other sly place, a most frightful bugbear We were threatened to be torn in pieces by this terrible animal-to have our eyes put out by "federal grog." We were told that "the federalists would not thank us for touching on so delicate a subject" that we should "rue the day in which the hint was suggested ;” ard, finally, to wind up, that " People who live in houses of glass should never begin to throw stones at those whore dwel lags are made of iron." ! !—Was not this dreadful Alas! What could the offending editors of the Balance do? They had disturbed the Bee in his iron" hive-and were every moment expecting to have their "glass house" battered about their cars! What was to be dore? Did they crave pardon? Did they retract? Did they remain silent? Ch, no! Presumptive men! They thrust their hands into the bear's mouth. They challenged investigation.They even attempted to provoke the Bee to the combat-all armed as it was with "sting and honey."-And what was the consequence ? • Why, the consequence was, that, last week, the Bee was " willing to consign the history of federal greg to oblivion."-" It's a trifle (says the dronish insect) we won't differ about."-So much for the paltry arts of a paltry editor.-Ard now, reader, what do you think of the " iron house" of the democrats? Agricultural. FOR THE BALANCE. THE FLOATING GARDENS OF MEXICO. It is a Tis a juft adage, that " neceffity but is the mother of invention." While a The Mexicans who border on Louisiana, after they were driven fometime in the 14th century from their native country Aztlan, and were fubdued by the Colhuan and Tepenacan nations, and confined to the miferable iflands on the lake Tetzcuco, were taught to form moveable gardens which floated upon the waters of the lake. The method in which they conftructed and managed thole gardens is thus defcribed by the Abbe Clavigero in his hiftory of Mexico. fels, loaded with various kinds of flowers "When the owner of the garden withes it. That part of the lake, (adds the Abbe Clavigero) where thofe floating gardens are, is a place of infinite recreation, where the fenfes receive the higheft poffible gratification." An easy access to this modern Eden and to the mines of Mexico will be opened to the French, after they fhall have gotten poffeffion of Louifiana. Monitorial Department. To aid the cause of virtue and religion. FROM THE LONDON TRAVELLER. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. THE "They plait and twift willows and roots of marth-plants, or other materials together, which are light, but capable of HE following moft fingular ocfupporting the earth of the garden firmly currence comes to us from a quarter perunited. On this foundation they lay the fectly authentic, and ftill forms the fubject little bufhes which float on the lake, and, of converfation in Britanny.-During the over all, the mud and dirt which they utmoft phrenzy of the French Revolution, draw up from the bottom of the lake.- there was a Curate at Rheims, whofe puriTheir regular figure is quadrangular; ty and benevolence had fo endeared him their length and breadth various; but as to people of all defcriptions, that in the far as we can judge, they are about eight height of their rage and madnefs, the Sepperches long, and not more than three tembrizing Committees dared not openly in breadth, and have lefs than a foot of to attack him. Determined therefore on elevation above the furface of the water. private affaffination, they applied to their Thefe were the firft fields which the Mexufual agents; but even their hands, long icans owned alter the foundation of Mex- ftained with blood, and hearts accustomed ico. There they first cultivated the to maflacre, turned away with horror from maize, great pepper, and other plants ne- the" deep damnation" of that deed.--The ceffary for their fupport. In progrefs of good Curate remained for fome time pro. time, thofe fields grew numerous from the tected by his own purity, till three bravoes industry of thefe people. There were a- were brought down from Paris, by whom mong them, gardens of flowers, and odowas arranged the following plan for his defriferous plants, which were employed in truction-Two of them were at the dead the worship of their gods, and ferved for of night to call up the Holy Man, in order the recreation of the nobles. At prefent, to attend the laft moments of a dying peni that is, in the year 1780, fays the Abbe, tent. This laft was to be reprefented by they cultivate flowers and every fort of the third experienced bravo, who, during garden herbs upon them. Every day of the exhortations of the Prieft, was fuddenthe year, at fun rife, innumerable vef-ly and filently to dispatch him. The ar rangement fo far fucceeded, that the Curate knew him. DA Miscellany. FOR THE BALANCE. As S agriculture has long been with nie a favourite ftudy, I am led to seize with eagernels any publications, ef pecially of my countrymen, on that in terefting and ufeful fubject; and I lately, in my researches of that kind, happened to perufe the account of the premiums propofed by the Philadelphia fociety for promoting agriculture, for the year 1790Among the feveral premiums which that refpe&table body has propofed, is the fol lowing. "For the best method of raifing hogs, from the pig, in pens or flies, from expe rience their fometimes running in a lot or field not totally excluded, if preferred -a gold medal and for the fecond bell -a filver medal." On this inode of rewarding improvements in the rearing of wine, I crave the indulgence of a few briel remarks. Hogs are fo uleful and neceffary for food that no one can reafonably object to offering a reward for the bel method of raifing them. Such a measure is proper and laudable; but the fpecies or quality of the propofed premium feems Medals improper and even ludicrous. of gold or filver, defigned as honorary badges of diftinction, fhould be awarded to literary merit-to ufeful works of Genius-to tranfcendant acts of patriotifn, and to the performance of any great and arduous duties of humanity. Indeed the man or woman who thould devife a meth and tally kept behind the door, of the fum "out gain fuch an afcendency over nature, the philofophy of art would degenerate into folly. Nor are we able to ftay the fluices of the heavens, when they are about to pour forth on our country a fuperabundance of waters. But, with regard to our local or accidental fources of difeafe, the cafe is different. Thefe we are competent to modify and deftroy. We can remove from around our habitations the putrefying recrements of organifed bodies; we can clear and cul od of feeding, inftructing and governing children, fuch as would be moft cor ducive to their health, intelligence and virtue, would well deferve the honorary diftinction of a golden medal: but a different and more acceptable reward belongs to the moft fkilful raifer of pigs; namely, a fum of money equal to the medal, either of gold or filver. A mere fwine-herd, though ignorant of the letters of the alphabet, might from long aud conftant experience, find out the beft method of feeding and rearing hogs; and a pecunia-|| tivate our natural meadow lands; and enry reward fhould be given him, rather In his younger days, he used at the rich our fields by means of manure, inthan an honorary medal, which worne on death of any of his children, to have a little ftead of more flowly attaining the fame his breaft, would be as laughable almost Deal box to put them in, and without un- end, by fffering them to lie for years in a as " a Jewel of Gold in a fwine's fnout." dergoing the folemn requifites of a regular wafte and weedy ftate. Further we can eThis point is not of the moft trivial funeral, he would take them upon his fhoul-rect our dwellings on elevated fituations, confequence; for the character of a nader to the place appropriated for their re- defend them from the exhalations of milltion is in fome degree affected by, any ception where, once interred, he feem- ponds and neighbouring marfhes by interpravity or incorrectnefs of tafle, manifeft-ingly coincided with the old adage, pofing ranges of trees; and, by means of ed in the doings of its literary focieties. flannel clothing, protect our perfons from the changes of the weather. Nor is this all. We can fubftitute vegetables for part of the animal food which we now confume, malt liquor and cider for our high wines and ardent fpirits, and, in other relpe&ts, live in conformity to the genius of our climate. Thefe obje&s fall within the fphere of our power, and it is no lefs our duty than our intereft to attain them. Such an iffue would contribute equally to individual health and happiness, and to the profperity, ftrength and aggrandizement of our country. Let us, then, like Cadmus of Lyre, wage a war of extermination with thefe hydras of difeafe, that our pofterity may live in fecurity from their ravages. The voice of patriotifm combines with that of nature and of reafon, to urge and ani mate us in the important enterprife. CRITO, FROM A GLASGOW PAPER. EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER. A SHORT time fince died, at Hornchurch, in Effex, Edward Nokes, aged 56, by trade a tinker, which he followed zealoufly till about fix weeks before his death. His apartments pourtrayed fymptoms of the most abject poverty, though at his death ne was found to be poffeffed of property to the amount of between five and fix thousand pounds. He had a wife and feveral children, which he brought up in the moft parfimonious manner, often feeding them on grains and offals of meat, which he purchaled at reduced prices. He was no lefs remarkable in his perfon and drefs; for in order to fave the expense of shaving, he would encourage the dirt to gathen on his face, to hide in fome measure this defect. He never fuffered his fhirt to be washed in water. His coat, which time had tranf formed into a jacket, would have puzzled the wifeft philofopher to make out its original colour, fo covered was it with threds and patches of different colours, and thofe to diverfified, as to refemble the trophies of the different nations of Europe, and feemed to vie with Jofeph's" coat of many colours." The intereft of his money, together with all he could heap up from his penurious mode of living, he used to depofit in a bag, which bag was covered up in a tin pot, and then conveyed to a brick kitchen; one of the bricks was taken up, and a hole made just large enough to hold the pot; the brick was then carefully marked, of fight, out of mind," and went home as A fhort time after his death, which he ev From the MEDICAL REPOSITORY. On the general and local, or natural and BY CHARLES CALDWELL, M. D. THE general or natural are, the excess of our fummer heats, the frequent, great, and fudden changes in the temperature of our atmosphere, and the flatnefs and depreffion of many parts of our country, connected with our copious precipitations of rain. Over thefe the power of man is ca pable of exercifing but a very limited con troul. We can neither impoverish the fountain of the intenfe heats of fummer, elevate to a greater pitch above the level of the ocean the low lands of our middle and fouthern flates, nor lock up the chambers of our northerly winds. In attempting to APHORISM.-Who attempts to cover what cannot be covered, is an ideot and hypocrite at once.-Lavater. Improvement. From an English Publication. CHEAP WHITE PAINT. TAKE fkim milk two quarts, frefh flacked lime half a pound, linfed oil fix ounces, white Burgundy pitch two ounces. The lime is to be flacked in water, expofed to the air, mixed in about one fourth of the milk the oil, in which the Burgundy pitch is previously diffolved, to be added, a little at a time, then the rest of the milk, and afterwards the Spanish white. This quantity is faid to be enough for twenty-feven fquare yards, two coats; and the expence a mere trifle. |